Gaming apparatus having memory fault detection

ABSTRACT

An information processing device and associated methodology are provided for inspecting a program fault. A first memory stores a boot program executed when the information processing device is initiated for operation. A second memory device is provided for storing an application program. A control device executes a fault inspection program to inspect whether or not a fault has occurred in the second memory device. The fault inspection program is stored in the first memory device and is initiated upon initialization of the information processing device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is based upon and claims a priority from the priorJapanese Patent Application No. 2004-245337 filed on Aug. 25, 2004, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information process device in whicha fault in hardware or software is inspected.

2. Description of Related Art

In a conventional information process device, data and programs requiredin calculation or control are stored in one memory area of a memorydevice such as a hard disk and a program for inspecting whether or not afault such as damage, change or falsification occurs in the programs ordata (hereinafter, abbreviated as “fault inspection program”) is storedin the other memory area in the same memory device, as disclosed inUnexamined Japanese Publication No. 2003-331236.

Therefore, in a case that the damage occurs in the memory device, thereis fear that the fault inspection program is also damaged. At that time,it cannot be guaranteed that the fault inspection program properlyoperates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to dissolve the above problems, the present invention has beendone and has an object to provide an information process device in whichit can be guaranteed that a fault inspection program properly operateseven if a fault occurs in a memory device which is inspected through thefault inspection program.

In order to accomplish the above object, according to one aspect of thepresent invention, it is provided an information process devicecomprising:

a first memory device for storing a boot program executed when theinformation process device is started to operate;

a mother board on which the first memory device is provided;

a second memory device for storing an application program, the secondmemory device being connected to the mother board;

a control device for executing a fault inspection program to inspectwhether or not a fault occurs in the second memory device;

wherein the fault inspection program is stored in the first memorydevice; and

wherein the control device executes the fault inspection program whenthe information process device is started to operate.

According to the information process device of the present invention,the fault inspection program is stored in the first memory device on themother board which is independent from the second memory device, therebyeven if the fault occurs in the second memory device, it can beguaranteed that the fault inspection program properly operates.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention willmore fully appear from the following detailed description when the sameis read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to beexpressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purpose ofillustration only and not intended as a definition of the limits of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the objects, advantagesand principles of the invention.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information process device according tothe embodiment,

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a start program executed when the informationprocess device is started to operate, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the information process device accordingto the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the embodiment according to the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the embodiment according to the presentinvention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an information process deviceof the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, although the information processdevice 1 is a gaming machine for business use, such gaming machineutilizes an operating system (OS) which is generally used in a personalcomputer on sale. And under an operation circumstances thereof, a gamesoft program stored in a hard disk mentioned later is operated.

And as shown in FIG. 1, in the information process device 1 according tothe embodiment, a CPU 12, a ROM 13, a RAM 14, a bus 15, connectors 16,17, a port 18, extended slots 19, 20 are provided on a mother board 11.

The CPU 12 controls the information process device 1 of the embodimentand executes various programs. Therefore, the CPU 12 corresponds to acontrol device.

And the ROM 13 is a nonvolatile memory in which various control programsare stored, such control programs being required when the informationprocess device 1 of the embodiment is started to operate. The ROM 13corresponds to a first memory device. And in the ROM 13, as shown inFIG. 1, a boot program storing area 13 a for storing a boot program, afault inspection program storing area 13 b for storing a faultinspection program and a start program storing area 13 c for storing astart program are formed.

Here, the boot program stored in the boot program storing area 13 a, thefault inspection program stored in the fault inspection program storingarea 13 b and the start program stored in the start program storing area13 c will be described hereinafter.

Further, the RAM 14 is a memory for temporarily storing various datacalculated when the CPU 12 executes programs.

The bus 15 is constructed from a PCI bus in which a bridge circuit forfrequency change is formed, and becomes a common signal bus throughwhich transmission and receipt of signals are conducted among the CPU12, the ROM 13, the RAM 14, the connectors 16, 17, the port 18 and theextended slots 19, 20.

The connector 16 is a device to connect an output device 21 requiredwhen the game soft program is operated, to the mother board 11.

Here, the output device 21 connected to the connector 16 is constructedfrom a liquid crystal display (see the reference number 21 in FIG. 3)and a sound output device (not shown) such as a speaker. Instead of theliquid crystal display (see the reference number 21 in FIG. 3), a CRTdisplay and the like may be used.

The connector 17 is a device to connect an input device required whenthe game soft program is operated, to the mother board 11. Here, theinput device 22 is constructed from a control panel 22 (see FIG. 3)provided with a plurality of button switches (not shown). The inputdevice 22 may include the other devices such as a keyboard, a mouse andthe like, and according to contents of the game soft program, a joystickand the like may be connected to the connector 17. And in FIG. 1,although only one connector 17 is shown, if a plurality of input devices22 are used, plural connectors 17 are provided respectivelycorresponding to each of the input devices 22.

And a hard disk 24 (HDD) is connected to the port 18 through a flatcable 23.

And in the hard disk 24 connected to the port 18, there are formed anoperating system (OS) storing area 24 a for storing the OS, an extendedBIOS (Basic Input Output System) storing area 24 b for storing anextended BIOS and an application storing area 24 c for storing anapplication program which is the game soft program. Therefore, the harddisk 24 corresponds to a second memory device.

And the extended slot 19 is an insertion slot to connect a video board25 to the mother board 11.

Here, the video board 25 connected to the mother board 11 through theextended slot 19 is a board having a graphics-accelerator to displayfigures and characters on the liquid crystal display (see the referencenumber 21 in FIG. 3) which is one of the output devices 21. The videoboard 25 can conduct performance with a resolution level and a graphicsdescribing speed so that the operation of the game soft program in theinformation process device 1 of the embodiment can be properly executed.

And the extended slot 20 is an insertion slot to connect a sound board26 to the mother board 11.

Here, the sound board 26 connected to the mother board 11 through theextended slot 20 is a board having a chip such as FM sound source andPCM sound source to output sounds from the speaker (not shown) which isone of the output devices 21. The sound board 26 can conduct performanceso that the operation of the game soft program in the informationprocess device 1 of the embodiment can be properly executed.

Next, with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 2, it will bedescribed an operation executed when the information process device 1according to the embodiment is started to operate. FIG. 2 is a flowchartof a start program executed when the information process device 1 isstarted to operate.

In the information process device 1 of the embodiment, when the device 1is started to operate, the start program stored in the start programstoring area 13 c of the ROM 13 is executed by the CPU 12.

That is to say, as shown in FIG. 2, when the start program is executed,at first in S11, a boot program is executed.

Here, the boot program is a program stored in the boot program storingarea 13 a of the ROM 13, and based on the boot program, initializationof various devices including the extended BIOS (Basic Input OutputSystem) in the hard disk 24 and the OS (Operating System) in the harddisk 24 is executed.

At that time, since the OS (Operating System) in the hard disk 24 isloaded in the RAM 14 and started to operate, the ROM 13 may be called asa boot ROM at this point of view.

Next, when procedure of the start program shifts to S12, the faultinspection program is executed.

Here, the fault inspection program is a program stored in the faultinspection program storing area 13 b and through which a faultinspection in the hard disk 24 is executed. Concretely, according to thefault inspection program, it is inspected whether or not a damage occursin the hard disk 24 or whether or not change or falsification of theprogram stored in the hard disk 24 is conducted.

Next, when procedure of the start program shifts to S13, it isdetermined whether or not a fault occurs in the hard disk 24. Thisdetermination is conducted based on an execution result of the faultinspection program obtained in S12.

At that time, if it is determined that the fault does not occur in thehard disk 24 (S13: NO), procedure shifts to S14, thereafter theapplication program stored in the hard disk 24 is loaded in the RAM 14and execution of the application program is started. On the other hand,if it is determined that the fault occurs in the hard disk 24 (S13:YES), procedure shifts to S15 and error display is conducted on theliquid crystal display (see the reference number 21 in FIG. 3) which isone of the output devices 21.

As mentioned, in the information process device 1 according to theembodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the fault inspection program is storedin the fault inspection program storing area 13 b of the ROM 13 on themother board 11 independently from the hard disk 24, thereby even if afault occurs in the hard disk 24 which is inspected by the faultinspection program, it can be guaranteed that the fault inspectionprogram properly operates.

And as shown in FIG. 3, the information process device 1 of theembodiment is used as the gaming machine for business use, and as shownin FIG. 2, the fault inspection program stored in the ROM 13 is executedat the time that the information process device 1 is started to operateand the fault inspection in the hard disk 24 is executed before gamesare started. Therefore, measures to avoid troubles during gaming can betaken beforehand, without giving displeasure to a player of the gamingmachine for business use.

Here, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment mentionedin the above and various modifications can be conducted within the scopeof the present invention.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, although the information process device1 of the embodiment is used as the gaming machine for business use, theinformation process device 1 may be adopted for a personal computer onsale. In this case, the keyboard, the mouse or the joystick may beutilized as the input device, instead of the control panel 22.

And in the information process device 1 of the embodiment, although thehard disk 24 is used as the second memory device, a flash memory inwhich contents can be changed and stored may be used. In this case, thefault inspection program inspects whether or not a fault occurs in theflash memory.

The present invention can be adopted for the fault inspection in theinformation process device.

1. A gaming device configured to execute a game, the gaming devicecomprising: a first memory device for storing a boot program executedwhen the gaming device is started to operate; a mother board on whichthe first memory device is provided; a second memory device for storinga game application program for the game, the second memory device beingconnected to the mother board; and a control device for executing afault inspection program for the gaming device to inspect whether or nota fault occurs in the second memory device and the game applicationprogram stored therein, wherein the fault inspection program is storedin the first memory device, and the control device executes the faultinspection program when the gaming device is started to operate andcompletes the execution of the fault inspection program before the gameis started.
 2. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the firstmemory device is a ROM provided on the mother board, wherein the secondmemory device is a hard disk which is independent from the mother board,and wherein the control device executes the fault inspection programstored in the ROM to inspect whether or not the fault occurs in the harddisk.
 3. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the gamingdevice is configured for business use.
 4. The gaming device according toclaim 1, wherein the first memory device and the mother board arelocated in the gaming device.
 5. The gaming device according to claim 1,wherein the second memory device is a flash memory.
 6. A gaming deviceconfigured to execute a game, the gaming device comprising: a firstmemory device configured to store a boot program executed when thegaming device is started to operate; a mother board on which the firstmemory device is provided; a second memory device configured to store agame application program, the second memory device being connected tothe mother board and electrically rewritable; a control deviceconfigured to execute a fault inspection program to inspect whether ornot a fault occurs in the second memory device and the game applicationprogram stored therein; wherein the fault inspection program is storedin the first memory device, and the control device executes the faultinspection program every time the gaming device is started to operateand completes the execution of the fault inspection program before thegame is started, and wherein when the fault does not occur in the secondmemory device the game application program is started to execute andwhen the fault occurs in the second memory device an error is displayedon a display device located on an exterior of the gaming device.
 7. Thegaming device according to claim 6, wherein the first memory device is aROM provided on the mother board, wherein the second memory device is ahard disk which is independent from the mother board, and wherein thecontrol device executes the fault inspection program stored in the ROMto inspect whether or not the fault occurs in the hard disk.
 8. Thegaming device according to claim 7, further comprising: a RAM providedon the mother board; wherein the game application program is loaded fromthe hard disk to the RAM and executed by the control device when thefault does not occur in the hard disk.
 9. The gaming device according toclaim 6, wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display.
 10. Agaming device configured to execute a game, the gaming devicecomprising: a first memory device for storing a boot program executedwhen the gaming device is started to operate; a mother board on whichthe first memory device is provided; a second memory device for storinga game application program for the game and a BIOS, the second memorydevice being connected to the mother board; and a control device forexecuting a fault inspection program for the gaming device to inspectwhether or not a fault occurs in the second memory device and the gameapplication program stored therein; wherein the fault inspection programis stored in the first memory device, and the control device executesthe boot program to initialize the BIOS stored in the second memorydevice before executing the fault inspection program when the gamingdevice is started to operate, and completes the execution of the faultinspection program before the game is started.